Kindel could return to practice with the Penguins next week after losing consciousness on the team plane

The 19-year-old forward was cleared to fly to Pittsburgh on Wednesday after suffering vasovagal syncope, a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure that reduces blood flow to the brain, about 10 minutes after the plane left Salt Lake City International Airport. Kindel was given oxygen before an emergency medical landing and transported to the University of Utah Medical Center.

Kindel, who played 18:53 in a 5-4 loss to the Utah Mammoth on Monday, was placed on injured reserve Thursday. He will undergo more tests and could begin training in the next four days if there are no complications, Dubas said.

“I mean, it’s so hard to set a deadline,” Dubas said. “We play tonight. We play Saturday night. … Our hope is to do everything, test, get back to practice here in the next four days or so and see if he can return to practice Sunday or Monday.

“That’s why I would put an asterisk on it and say ‘we’ll see how everything goes before then’.”

Kindel has four points (two goals, two assists) in nine games this season, his second since being selected in the first round (11th overall) by Pittsburgh in the 2025 NHL Draft. He had 35 points (17 goals, 18 assists) in 77 games as a rookie.

“I’m happy that everything is okay,” said defender Erik Karlsson. “We’re moving on. Glad to see ‘Kindy’ is here today and in good spirits.”

Dubas said there was no indication that Kindel would be likely to have a vasovagal episode.

“It is understood that there is certainly no history with Ben,” Dubas said. “Obviously, we’re going to work on it to figure out what exactly triggered this. I don’t know anything about that either. But no history, no.”

Kindel was still processing the episode, Dubas said Thursday.

“It’s probably 48 hours later. I met him earlier this morning,” Dubas said. “Very clearly shaken. I think we just need to continue to help him with our resources.

“For me, this is the third or fourth time you suddenly go from hockey to life. … You realize very quickly that we are all working in a game. We are very lucky to do it, to work and to cover it. You would much rather talk about which team is playing well or poorly, diagnosing that and why. But you are reminded from time to time, probably rightly so, that there is more at stake than just wins and losses.”

The Penguins (3-6-1) canceled Wednesday’s practice after a long day of travel Tuesday. They are 1-6-1 in their last eight games and have been outscored 21-11 while losing every game in regulation during a four-game road trip.

Kindel’s situation has distracted from the team’s recent struggles, Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby said.

“When something like this happens, I think it puts things into perspective pretty quickly,” Crosby said. “But I think knowing that we have a chance here to bounce back at home and put this journey behind us, we just have to look at this as an opportunity to get back on track.

“Everyone’s trying to do their best to support each other and be here. It’s one of those things where you try to make the best of tough situations. We’re a family here. I think when guys come here, no matter how long you’ve been here, I think that’s something we want them to feel right away.”

The Penguins will face the Florida Panthers at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; SN-PIT, SCRIPPS, SNP, SNE, TVAS) before hosting the Nashville Predators on Saturday.

Kindel will likely miss at least these two games before potentially returning against Mammoth at home on October 29.

“The show goes on tonight,” Dubas said. “So, we have to prepare and prepare for that. Number 1, take care of our people. And Number 2, put them in a good place to perform. So, we’ll come back to that.”